“Clients trust us during the worst of the worst of times, and it’s important that we’re there for them.”
-David W. Craig
David, thank you for joining us today. To start, could you tell our readers a bit about yourself—your journey into law, your current role, and what drives your professional mission?
I’m David W. Craig, one of the founders and managing partner of the law firm Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. We just celebrated our 26th anniversary, and I’ve been practicing law since 1985. Our law firm is a personal injury law firm that has a heavy emphasis on protecting victims of semitruck and other commercial motor vehicle wrecks. I am board-certified in truck accident law, and I’ve been consistently ranked as one of the top trial lawyers in the country.
I have been selected as one of the Top 50 Indiana attorneys by Super Lawyers. I have the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell and am a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. I’m also the recipient of the Thurgood Marshall Award for my work representing truck accident victims.
I have always wanted to be a lawyer and make a difference. My goal, and my firm’s goal, is to make a positive difference in the lives of my clients, my employees, their families, and the communities in which I practice. I’m proud of the team of people I work with each and every day that has helped me accomplish that goal. In our law firm, I treat people the way they want to be treated. Everyone is different, and I think it’s important to recognize that. Clients trust us during the worst of times, and it’s important that we’re there for them.
Of all things, I’m most proud of my children. I have three wonderful children, two of whom are lawyers in my law firm, and the third is our professional videographer who works with our clients and our firm on a daily basis. My wife and I were married in 1983, and she runs my practice. I have six wonderful grandchildren who I love spending time with. Another interesting fact about me is that I have a mini goldendoodle named Scout, and she comes to work with me regularly.
You’ve earned recognitions like “Top 100 Indiana Trial Lawyers” and multiple Super Lawyers honors over the years. Could you walk us through what these awards mean to you—not just professionally, but personally?
I’ve been privileged to receive numerous awards over the years. One of the most meaningful is my ranking as one of the Top 50 lawyers by Super Lawyers. This is meaningful to me because I was selected and voted on by my peers—other attorneys and judges in Indiana. Another significant award is the Thurgood Marshall Award.
It was awarded for my work representing truck accident victims, and I’m the only one in Indiana who has ever received it. These awards reflect the recognition of the work that my team and I have consistently put forth in representing the victims of truck accidents, commercial motor vehicles, and other types of accidents. What’s meaningful is that the recognition isn’t for one particular case but for the quality and effort of our work year after year.
Your work in truck accident litigation stands out as a cornerstone of your practice. What inspired you to focus on this particular area of law, and how has it shaped your views on justice and accountability?
A large part of my practice is representing victims of semitruck, large truck, and other commercial motor vehicle accidents.
As a young lawyer, I represented the victim of a dump truck wreck. The truck had gone off the highway, through a parking lot, through a fence, through a building, and struck my client. It turned out the truck driver had an untreated epileptic condition and shouldn’t have been behind the wheel. The company knew about his condition but, being short-staffed, sent him to a doctor who rubber-stamped his medical card. He had a seizure and nearly killed my client.
The trucking company didn’t accept responsibility and blamed a mechanical issue. Even though I was young, I refused to back down. I prepared for trial, and the case settled after the first day—for the amount we were demanding.
From that case, I learned not to trust a trucking company and to prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. I also learned never to be outworked by the other side. The case was high-stakes and rewarding, and it shaped the focus of my career.
Many lawyers work behind the scenes—but you’ve stepped forward to educate the public with your books, including Semitruck Wreck and It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney. What pushed you to become an author, and how have readers responded?
I grew up in a family where most of my relatives had not gone to college, let alone law school. They would’ve been at a disadvantage—they wouldn’t know what questions to ask a lawyer or how to pick the right one.
When I was young, I hired an attorney for a traffic ticket. He talked down to me and my dad, made us feel silly for asking questions, and discouraged us from contacting him unless he needed something. I remember thinking, if I became a lawyer, I’d be different.
Now, I am different. I treat clients how I’d want to be treated, and I’ve worked hard to educate the public. They should know what to ask, how to pick the best attorney, and how to understand the process. I write books for everyday people—what I’d want my own family to know if they were hiring an attorney after a truck wreck.
Legal literacy is a recurring theme in your work. How do you see access to legal knowledge affecting a person’s ability to make empowered decisions—especially after traumatic events like truck accidents?
People need access to information. As they say, knowledge is power. I want to empower people who aren’t lawyers and don’t have a lawyer, so they can ask the right questions.
You’ve long championed ethical practices in legal representation. What systemic gaps or everyday behaviors do you believe the public needs to watch out for when selecting a legal advocate?
Unfortunately, there are bad and unethical lawyers. The bigger and more valuable the case, the more likely you are to run into one of them—lawyers willing to risk their license if the potential fee is high enough.
These few bad actors give the rest of us a bad name. The average person doesn’t always know what’s ethical and what isn’t. I want to provide that information so people aren’t taken advantage of by those few unscrupulous attorneys.
Your work intersects with broader themes of public safety, consumer protection, and access to justice. In what ways do you believe legal professionals can contribute to safer and more informed communities?
My goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of others. I do that by educating people about truck accident law and helping them understand how to choose the right attorney.
We can also make things safer by holding corporations accountable—suing those who put profit ahead of safety. We’ve insisted on changes that protect people in the future. This profession is rewarding because we help our clients while also working to make roadways safer.
In the context of diversity and inclusion, how do you ensure that your firm—and your outreach work—remains equitable and accessible to individuals from various backgrounds and life experiences?
Everyone is welcome at our law firm. We have a diverse group of people who work here, as well as those we represent. I believe inclusion starts at the top, and the example I set flows down through the firm. We are here to help anyone and everyone who has been harmed by another’s carelessness.
Innovation and adaptability are essential even in traditional fields like law. How do you stay ahead of legal trends, courtroom strategies, or public engagement approaches in such a dynamic environment?
I’m proud that our law firm stays on the cutting edge of trial strategy, business marketing, and management. We encourage our lawyers and paralegals to attend national seminars and learn from the best.
We hire people who help us expand and grow. We have reading groups to discuss books and incorporate new insights. We’re always working to improve.
What advice would you give to new lawyers or legal advocates who are just starting out but want to make a meaningful, ethical, and lasting difference in people’s lives?
You need to know what excites you and what you want from this profession. There are tons of opportunities, but you can’t expect results without focus.
Too many law students are going through the motions—focused on getting a degree and license. I’d figure out what I wanted and work for someone who could teach me the most. I wouldn’t worry about pay in the beginning—just how much I could learn and how the job would get me closer to my goal.
If you were to write your bio in your own words, what would you say? What legacy do you hope to leave?
David W. Craig is a nationally recognized trucking accident attorney with more than 35 years of experience litigating catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Named a Trucking Top 10 and Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers, David is also the recipient of the Thurgood Marshall Fighting for Justice Award from the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America.
He is the host of the podcast After the Crash and the best-selling author of Semi-Truck Wreck and It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney.
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“We are not only helping our clients, but working to make the roadways safer.”
-David W. Craig
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- Supports decent work and economic growth through legal advocacy (SDG 8)
- Enhances community safety and well-being (SDG 3)
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